Processes for converting textiles and enhancing the fluid repellant properties of textiles

ABSTRACT

Processes for converting textiles from water and oil absorbent textiles to water and oil repellent textiles and for treating textiles to increase fluid repellant properties of the textiles. The treated textiles may be used, for example, as PPE for healthcare workers that are faced with a shortage of PPE materials. The processes add a fluid repellant, such as a fluoropolymer-based fluid repellant, during a stage of a laundry process, for example at the sour stage. The fluid repellant may be added multiple times during a laundry process.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 63/011,918 filed on Apr. 17, 2020, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to processes for enhancing the fluidrepellant properties of the textiles, and more specifically, toprocesses for converting textiles into fluid repellant textiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beginning in December 2019 and spreading into a global pandemicextending into 2021, the Coronavirus known as “Covid-19” has resulted inenormous numbers of stricken persons requiring hospitalization. Theunforeseen pandemic and resulting needs for healthcare have strained thehealthcare community to a point where there is a significant shortage ofhand sanitizers and hard surface disinfectants and personal protectiveequipment (PPE) including but not limited to face masks, isolationgowns, gloves, and face shields, to name a few.

With many of those stricken by the virus requiring hospitalization, andthose who are admitted to the hospital being placed into eitherisolation or intensive care; the demands for PPE are significant. Thesedemands, when coupled with global shortages due to shuttered textileproduction facilities and travel/shipping restrictions have created adire situation where alternative means of producing/procuring healthcaresupply items have been granted under emergency presidential/governmentalorder.

Presently, the application of fluid resistant protective chemistries totextiles occurs at a textile mill, most often applied to bolt clothprior to cutting and sewing. The application of the barrier treatmentchemistry may be applied via a padding or spray-on process where in aknown volume/quantity of material is applied to a controlled area of drycloth. Further the applied fluid resistant chemistry may be “cured” ontothe cloth by means of a high-heat oven. Protective apparel ismanufactured against, or to, written performance standards wherein theapplication rate is controlled to generate a desired performanceattribute.

Chemical treatments which are designed to impart a fluid repellant/fluidresistant property to laundered healthcare barrier gowns are known tothose of ordinary skill in the professional laundry marketspace. Thesetreatments are typically merely utilized to refresh fluidrepellant/fluid resistant textiles used in the surgical suite includingbut not limited to surgical drapes, physician gowns and other coverings.Additionally, these barrier treatments have been used to refresh thefluid repellant/fluid resistant properties of isolation gowns, outercoverings used by healthcare workers who administer healthcare topatients in isolation rooms, for example respiratory or entericisolation. However, this treatment is less than ideal as the improvedproperties do not last long, and the textile must be retreatedfrequently.

Accordingly, there is a need to address the general lack of disposableisolation gowns and protective coverings which can be worn by healthcareproviders. Additionally, there is a need to provide a process ofimproving fluid repellent properties of textiles which provides longerlasting improved properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed at solving one or more problems notedabove. More specifically, it has surprisingly and unexpectantly beendiscovered that common healthcare textiles can be easily and efficientlytreated to enhance the fluid repellent properties thereof. According tothe present processes, multiple healthcare textiles that are normallywater and oil absorbent, can be made into oil and water repellent afterproper treatment. This would allow commonly available clothing items tobe converted into materials that could be used as PPE. Additionally,such a treatment is believed to provide a longer lasting improvedproperties compared with the results of conventional processes.According to the present processes, the fluid repellant properties ofthe textiles are improved in a laundry process.

In typical commercial or industrial laundry processes, textile materialssuch as sheets, towels, wipes, garments, tablecloths, etc. are commonlylaundered at elevated temperatures with alkaline detergent materials.Such detergent materials typically contain a source of alkalinity suchas an alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal silicate, alkali metalcarbonate or other such base component. When the linen is treated withan alkaline detergent composition a certain amount of carryoveralkalinity may occur. Carryover alkalinity refers to the chemistry thatis contained within the linen (that has not been completely removed)that is available for the next step. For example, when the detergent usesolution provides an alkaline environment, it is expected that thedetergent use solution will provide a certain amount of carryoveralkalinity for a subsequent sour treatment step unless all of thedetergent use solution is removed by rinsing.

The residual components of the alkaline detergents remaining in or onthe laundered item can result in fabric damage and skin irritation bythe wearer of the washed fabric. This is particularly a problem withtowels, sheets and garments. Sour materials contain acid components thatneutralize alkaline residues on the fabric. In preferred aspects, thepresent processes convert the textiles and improve the fluid repellantproperties of the textiles by adding a fluid repellant into the sourstage of the laundry process.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention may be characterizedas providing a process for converting textiles from water and oilabsorbent textiles into textiles that are water and oil repellant by:subjecting textiles to a laundry treatment process, wherein the textilesare water and oil absorbent; and, adding a fluid repellant during astage of the laundry treatment process for the textiles, wherein thetextiles are water and oil repellant after the laundry treatmentprocess. The fluid repellant may be a fluoropolymer-based fluidrepellant. The fluid repellant may be added during a sour stage of thelaundry treatment process. The textiles may include 100% polyester,80/20 polyester/cotton blends, 65/35 polyester/cotton blends, 55/45cotton/polyester blends, or a combination thereof. The fluid repellantmay be added in an amount between 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundredpounds of cloth (cwt.). A pH of the stage of the laundry treatmentprocess when the fluid repellant is added may be between 3.5 and 6.5, orbetween 4.5 and 5.5. A temperature of the stage of the laundry treatmentprocess when the fluid repellant is added may be between 100-120° F. Thestage of the laundry treatment process may last between 8 and 12minutes. The process may further include: repeating the adding of fluidrepellant; and, drying the textiles after repeating the addition of thefluid repellant at least two times. The addition of the fluid repellantis repeated at least three times.

In another aspect, the present invention may generally be characterizedas providing a process for converting textiles from water and oilabsorbent textiles into textiles that are water and oil repellant by:laundering textiles at an elevated temperature with an alkalinedetergent, wherein the textiles are water and oil absorbent; and, addinga sour to the textiles during a sour stage; and adding a fluid repellantduring the sour stage, wherein the textiles are water and oil repellantafter the sour stage. The fluid repellant may be added in an amountbetween 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundred pounds of cloth (cwt.)for each cycle. The textiles may include 100% polyester, 80/20polyester/cotton blends, 65/35 polyester/cotton blends, 55/45cotton/polyester blends, or a combination thereof. The process mayinclude: repeating the addition of the fluid repellant; and, drying thetextiles after repeating the addition of the fluid repellant at leasttwo times. The addition of the fluid repellant may be repeated at leastthree times.

In some aspects, the present invention, broadly, may be characterized asimproving at least one fluid repellant property of textiles by:laundering textiles at an elevated temperature with an alkalinedetergent; and, adding a sour to the textiles during a sour stage; andadding a fluid repellant during the sour stage, wherein at least onefluid repellant property of the textile is improved after the sourstage. The fluid repellant may be a fluoropolymer-based fluid repellant.The process may include: repeating the addition of the fluid repellant;and drying the textiles after repeating the addition of the fluidrepellant at least two times. The addition of fluid repellant may berepeated at least three times. The fluid repellant may be added in anamount between 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundred pounds of cloth(cwt.) for each time the fluid repellant is added.

Additional aspects, embodiments, and details of the invention, all ofwhich may be combinable in any manner, are set forth in the followingdetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below in conjunction with the following drawing figures, inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts a graph showing results of comparative testing associatedwith textiles treated according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 depicts a graph showing additional results of comparative testingassociated with textiles treated according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With these general principles in mind, one or more embodiments of thepresent invention will be described with the understanding that thefollowing description is not intended to be limiting.

As noted above, it has surprisingly and unexpectantly been found thattextiles that are normally water and oil absorbent, can be made into oiland water repellent after proper treatment. According to preferredaspects of the present processes, application of fluid resistantchemical treatment is made during the final “sour bath” stage of alaundry process. Further still, this process has been found functionallyeffective on “in-service” textiles which are already in the channel ofuse and does not require “new/virgin” textiles.

Through application of a known fluid resistant chemical additivesnormally utilized in the professional laundry process to treat surgicalbarrier gowns, it has been found that different apparel, that is notfluid resistance, can be successfully treated within the professionallaundry setting, to impart a significant level of fluid resistantbarrier protection. Thus, with the present processes, a variety oftextiles made of varying fiber blends can have improved fluid repellentproperties or be converted into water and oil repellant textiles.Further, it has been found that repetitive laundry processing inclusiveof “maintenance dosing” of the fluid repellant treatment chemistry canmaintain the barrier properties of the treated textiles.

This application and process has been conducted using afluoropolymer-based fluid repellant laundry treatment manufactured anddistributed under the tradename PULSE SHIELD and available from GurtlerIndustries of South Holland, Ill. PULSE SHIELD is formulated with aproprietary, partially fluorinated polymer. The polymer is synthesizedusing alkyl chains which are excluded from the Octyl type, and areconsidered short chain. PULSE SHIELD, and its formulation components arenot considered PFOA/PFOS (perfluorooctyl acid/substances). Theformulation components within PULSE SHIELD have been selected to meet“the goals of the EPA 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program.” It isbelieved that other fluid repellant(s) could be used.

This process invention illustrates that the protective fluid resistantproperties can be applied “in-situ” using existing laundry processingequipment and commercially available after-treatment chemistries.Specifically, the present processes add the fluid repellant during oneof the stages of a commercial laundry process. Generally, commerciallaundry processes are carried out in continuous batch tunnel washers ora washer/extractor. As is known, these types of washers have multiplezones or stages that carry out different functions for the laundryprocess. For example, a laundry process may include the followingstages: pre-wash, wash, rinse, and finishing.

A preferred dose can range between 16 and 64 fluid ounces perone-hundred pounds of cloth (cwt.). A preferred pH of the applicationbath is between pH 3.5 and 6.5, or between pH 4.5 and 5.5. A preferredapplication temperature is between 100-120° F. A preferred applicationduration is between 8 and 12 minutes.

Based on the present processes, fabrics of varying fiber compositionscan be enhanced in their fluid resistance. Examples indicated thatdifferent fabrics will respond to the treatment to provide a targetedlevel of fluid repellency. Accordingly, as will be appreciated the exactamount and application conditions may vary based on fabric materialssuch that may be one targeted application dose rate of the fluidresidence chemistry when treating 100% polyester scrubs, a secondapplication when treating 100% polyester doctor coats, a third dosagefor treating 65/35 polyester/cotton scrubs, and a fourth applicationdosage for treating 55/45 cotton/polyester patient gowns. Thus, theapplication of the fluid repellent may be repeated, for example, twotimes, or three times, or ten times. One of ordinary skill in the art isable to determine the appropriate number of applications. The number ofapplications will also depend on whether the application is an initialapplication or a maintenance (subsequent) application.

In order to maintain a desired level of fluid repellency, for examplethat detailed in AATCC Method 118 or 193, a specific maintenance dose islikely needed to be re-applied on each subsequent laundering and wearcycle. The experimental data has revealed that such maintenance dosagesdiffer significantly from historical norms for treated syntheticsurgical barrier fabrics.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Five (5) classifications of healthcare textile items were collected forstudy. These healthcare textiles included: new 100% polyester scrubs;in-service 100% polyester scrubs; in-service blended cotton/polyesterscrubs; in-service blended cotton/polyester patient gowns; and,in-service 100% polyester laboratory coat.

All textiles were laundered and treated in a commercially availablewasher/extractor from Pellerin Milnor of Kenner La. The laundry processconditions for some of the various stages are outlined in TABLE 1.

TABLE 1 Time Chemistry Active Available Operation/Stage (minutes)Temperature (per cwt.) Alkalinity Oxygen pH Break 8 140-150 12 oz PowerJolt, 10 drops 6 oz Power Block, (440 ppm) 6 oz Power Blast Bleach 8 1608 oz Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse 2 11 drops (121 ppm) Rinse 2 145 Rinse 2130 Sour (set-up) 1 115 6 oz Sour Plus 5.0 Pulse Shield 10 100 32 PulseShield 5.0 Extract- low 3 275 rpm

Dry Conditions: Dry garments to full-dry based on fiber/fabriccomposition. Typically, this is a high-heat setting. Extending the drycycle will aide in developing the full-cure of the components of thewater repellant to the fabric.

Performance Evaluations: The efficacy of the application of PULSE SHIELDto normal daily healthcare wear was measured via the following testmethods to determine water repellant properties of the treated textiles:AATCC Method 79: Absorbency of Textiles; AATCC Method 118: OilRepellency: Hydrocarbon Resistance Test; and, AATCC Method 193: AqueousLiquid Repellency: Water/Alcohol Solution Resistance Test.

Impact of Repeated Laundering & Treatment Cycles: Each of the abovetextile classifications were repeat laundered for several wash-and-drycycles. TABLES 2 and 3, below, display the test solutions from eachAATCC test method that was used to evaluate the textiles for variousfluid repellent properties.

TABLE 2 Water/Alcohol Solution Resistance Test Test Liquid Water/AlcoholRatio W 100% water 1 98/2  2 95/5  3 90/10 4 80/20 5 70/30 6 60/40 750/50 8 40/60

TABLE 3 Oil Repellency: Hydrocarbon Resistance Test AATCC Oil RepellencyGrade Number Composition 1 Kaydol (Mineral Oil) 2 65:35Kaydol:n-hexadecane 3 n-hexadecane 4 n-tetradecane 5 n-dodecane 6n-decane

Results of Repetitive Laundering & After-Treatment: The treatment of 32oz/cwt of repellant was applied to every cycle beginning with theinitial treatment and continuing through the following wash & treatmentcycles as shown in the TABLES below.

TABLE 4 New 100% Polyester New Scrubs AATCC AATCC AATCC Method 79 Method193 Method 118 Prior to Fail Fail at 1 Fail at 1 Treatment 3 cycles of32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water WaterRepellant Repellant 10 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 offluid repellant Water Repellant Water Repellant 20 cycles of 32oz/cwtPass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water Repellant WaterRepellant

TABLE 5 New 100% Polyester In-Service Scrubs AATCC AATCC AATCC Method 79Method 193 Method 118 Prior to Fail: Fail at 1 Fail at 1 Treatment 3cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant WaterWater Repellant Repellant 10 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at6 of fluid repellant Water Repellant Water Repellant 20 cycles of32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water RepellantWater Repellant

TABLE 6 Laboratory Coat AATCC AATCC AATCC Method 79 Method 193 Method118 Prior to Treatment Fail: Fail at 1 Fail at 1 3 cycles of 32oz/cwtPass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water Water RepellantRepellant 10 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluidrepellant Water Repellant Water Repellant 20 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass:Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water Repellant Water Repellant

TABLE 7 In-service blended 65% cotton/35% polyester scrubs AATCC AATCCAATCC Method 79 Method 193 Method 118 Prior to Treatment Fail: Fail at 1Fail at 1 3 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 5 Pass at 2 of fluidrepellant Water Water Repellant Repellant 10 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass:Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant Water Repellant Water Repellant20 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 6 of fluid repellant WaterRepellant Water Repellant

TABLE 8 In-service blended 55% cotton/45% polyester patient gowns AATCCAATCC AATCC Method 79 Method 193 Method 118 Prior to Treatment Fail FailFail 3 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass Pass at 5 of fluid repellant WaterWater Repellant Repellant 10 cycles of 32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at5 of fluid repellant Water Repellant Water Repellant 20 cycles of32oz/cwt Pass: Pass at 8 Pass at 5 of fluid repellant Water RepellantWater Repellant

The results of the foregoing experiments shown in the above TABLESreveal that multiple types of healthcare textiles that are normallywater and oil absorbent, can be made into oil and water repellenttextiles after they are treated with 32 oz/cwt of PULSE SHIELD. Afterthree (3) cycles of 32 oz/cwt of PULSE SHIELD being added to the sourbath, all five textile classifications displayed dramatic increase influid repellant properties. After three wash cycles of 32 oz/cwt ofPULSE SHIELD, the textiles went from instantly absorbing water and oilto showing a sustainable water repellency of 40% water/60% isopropyl,and a sustainable oil repellency of n-decane.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the results of the evaluation for both AATCC Method193 and AATCC Method 118 after wash cycles three, ten, and twenty. Fromthe graphs, it is evident that after the three cycles of fluid repellantbeing added to the laundry process, textiles went from having an instantwater and oil absorbency to having a high water and oil repellency.

Through the data collected, garments treated with a dosage of PULSESHIELD at 32 oz/cwt show significantly enhanced repellency, and afterthree washes, textiles that were previously water and oil absorbent havethe ability to become water and oil repellent. Cotton/Polyester blendpatient gowns were also treated with a lower dosage of PULSE SHIELD (4oz/cwt, & 6 oz/cwt), which was proven to be ineffective at displayingthe desired degree of water and oil repellency that would be needed fora repurposed healthcare textile. The exact “maintenance dose” requiredduring subsequent laundering cycles would need to be determined based onfabric composition.

In second set of experiments, five sets of different textiles weretested according to AATCC TM127-2017(2018)e: Water Resistance:Hydrostatic Pressure Test to measure the resistance of a fabric to thepenetration of water under hydrostatic pressure. The textiles that weretested under AATCC TM127-2017(2018)e included: a smock with a 80/20polyester/cotton blend; scrub pants with a 55/45 cotton/polyester blend;scrub pants with 100% polyester; a patient gown with a 55/45cotton/polyester blend; and a patient gown with 100% polyester. One ofeach type of textile was subjected to a treatment in which fluidrepellant treatment was added into two different sour bath stages of alaundry process. The first treatment was dosed at 64 oz/cwt and thesecond treatment, or maintenance dose, was dosed at 32 oz/cwt.

In the TABLES, below, the results of the testing under AATCCTM127-2017(2018)e. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill inthe art, compared to the untreated textiles, the treated textiles had amuch high resistance to the penetrate of water.

TABLE 9 TEXTILE Smock (untreated) Smock (treated) 80/20 polyester/cotton80/20 polyester/cotton mbar cmH₂O mbar cmH₂O Test 1 3.0 3.1 14.0 14.3 23.0 3.1 12.5 12.8 3 2.5 2.6 12.5 12.8

TABLE 10 TEXTILE Scrub pants (untreated) Scrub pants (treated) 55/45cotton/polyester 55/45 cotton/polyester mbar cmH₂O mbar cmH₂O Test 1 8.08.2 10.0 10.2 2 8.0 8.2 9.0 9.2 3 8.5 8.7 8.5 8.7

TABLE 11 TEXTILE Scrub pants (untreated) Scrub pants (treated) 100polyester 100 polyester mbar cmH₂O mbar cmH₂O Test 1 3.0 3.1 17.5 17.9 23.0 3.1 18.5 18.9 3 3.0 3.1 19.0 19.4

TABLE 12 TEXTILE Patient gown (untreated) Patient gown (treated) 55/45cotton/polyester 55/45 cotton/polyester mbar cmH₂O mbar cmH₂O Test 1 0.00.0 11.0 11.2 2 0.0 0.0 11.0 11.2 3 0.0 0.0 11.0 11.2

TABLE 13 TEXTILE Patient gown (untreated) Patient gown (treated) 100polyester 100 polyester mbar cmH₂O mbar cmH₂O Test 1 3.0 3.1 10.5 10.7 22.5 2.6 9.0 9.2 3 3.0 3.4 9.5 9.7

Accordingly, by using the present processes, normal healthcare textilescan be enhanced in their fluid repellant properties either convertingthem to fluid resistant textiles, or providing a longer lastingmaintenance application. This is believed to be particularly beneficialin times when there is a shortage of suitable fluid resistance textilesin hospitals, such as the shortages of PPE attributed to the Covid-19pandemic.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description of the invention, it should beappreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also beappreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments areonly examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability,or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoingdetailed description will provide those skilled in the art with aconvenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, it being understood that various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements described in an exemplaryembodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for converting textiles from water and oil absorbent textiles into textiles that are water and oil repellant, the process comprising: subjecting textiles to a laundry treatment process, wherein the textiles are water and oil absorbent; and, adding a fluid repellant during a stage of the laundry treatment process for the textiles, wherein the textiles are water and oil repellant after the laundry treatment process.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluid repellant comprises a fluoropolymer-based fluid repellant.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluid repellant is added during a sour stage of the laundry treatment process.
 4. The process of claim 1, further comprising: repeating the adding of fluid repellant; and, drying the textiles after repeating the adding of the fluid repellant at least two times.
 5. The process of claim 4, wherein the adding of the fluid repellant is repeated at least three times.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the textiles comprise a material selected from a group consisting of: 100% polyester; 80/20 polyester/cotton blends; 65/35 polyester/cotton blends; and, 55/45 cotton/polyester blends.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluid repellant is added in an amount between 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundred pounds of cloth (cwt.).
 8. The process of claim 1, wherein a pH of the stage of the laundry treatment process when the fluid repellant is added is between 3.5 and 6.5.
 9. The process of claim 1, wherein a temperature of the stage of the laundry treatment process when the fluid repellant is added is between 100-120° F.
 10. The process of claim 1, wherein the stage of the laundry treatment process lasts between 8 and 12 minutes.
 11. A process for converting textiles from water and oil absorbent textiles into textiles that are water and oil repellant, the process comprising: laundering textiles at an elevated temperature with an alkaline detergent, wherein the textiles are water and oil absorbent; and, adding a sour to the textiles during a sour stage; and adding a fluid repellant during the sour stage, wherein the textiles are water and oil repellant after the sour stage.
 12. The process of claim 11, further comprising: repeating the adding of the fluid repellant; and, drying the textiles after repeating the adding of the fluid repellant at least two times.
 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the adding of the fluid repellant is repeated at least three times.
 14. The process of claim 11, wherein the fluid repellant is added in an amount between 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundred pounds of cloth (cwt.) for each cycle.
 15. The process of claim 11, wherein the textiles comprise a material selected from a group consisting of: 100% polyester; 80/20 polyester/cotton blends; 65/35 polyester/cotton blends; and, 55/45 cotton/polyester blends.
 16. A process for improving at least one fluid repellant property of textiles, the process comprising: laundering textiles at an elevated temperature with an alkaline detergent; and, adding a sour to the textiles during a sour stage; and adding a fluid repellant during the sour stage, wherein at least one fluid repellant property of the textile is improved after the sour stage.
 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the fluid repellant comprises a fluoropolymer-based fluid repellant.
 18. The process of claim 16, further comprising: repeating the adding of the fluid repellant; and, drying the textiles after repeating the adding of the fluid repellant at least two times.
 19. The process of claim 18, wherein the adding of fluid repellant is repeated at least three times.
 20. The process of claim 18, wherein the fluid repellant is added in an amount between 16 and 64 fluid ounces per one-hundred pounds of cloth (cwt.) for each time the fluid repellant is added. 